Ethanol Exports Jump 36% Over Last Year
Fuel and feed buyers should watch whether this strong overseas demand keeps supporting ethanol and grain-based prices.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Economic Indicators
U.S. ethanol exports reached 208.99 million gallons in September 2026, according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service data released Nov. 4, with distillers grains exports at 1.09 million metric tons. The volumes matter most to ethanol producers and the grain and livestock supply chains tied to them.
Why it matters
Export demand absorbs ethanol production that would otherwise sit in domestic supply, which can support prices and margins for producers and affects the cost of gasoline blends and feed ingredients. Distillers grains, the high-protein co-product of ethanol production, are a feed input for livestock, so strong overseas demand can influence feed costs.
U.S. ethanol exports were 208.99 million gallons in September, up 36% from September 2025 and down about 1% from August. Total ethanol exports for January through September reached 1.83 billion gallons, valued at $4.2 billion.
The players
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
The USDA agency that publishes monthly export trade data, which consumers and producers use to track agricultural and biofuel trade flows.
The details
Ethanol produced in the U.S. that is shipped abroad leaves domestic supply, so when export volumes rise, less product is available at home to meet domestic demand. Canada was the top destination at 93.52 million gallons, followed by the Netherlands at 19.38 million gallons and Vietnam at 17.21 million gallons. On the feed side, Mexico was the top destination for distillers grains, with Indonesia and South Korea next in line.
Timeline
September 2025 serves as the baseline month for the year-over-year ethanol export comparison.
USDA released the September 2026 export data on Nov. 4, 2026.
Cumulative export totals cover January through September 2026.
Money Landscape
The 36% year-over-year gain in September places ethanol exports well above the prior-year pace, reflecting stronger overseas demand for U.S. biofuel. Monthly export figures from the USDA series are a useful gauge of whether that demand is holding steady across the year.
Households may see the effect of ethanol and feed demand indirectly through fuel prices and the cost of livestock products, though the extraction does not quantify a price change. Anyone tracking household fuel or food budgets can watch future USDA export releases for the direction of this trend.
The takeaway
Strong export demand for U.S. ethanol and distillers grains is a useful signal for fuel and feed costs over time. Note the next USDA Foreign Agricultural Service monthly release to see whether the September pace holds.
Further reading
For context on the trade and price signals behind these numbers, explore our Economic Indicators coverage.
